País Vasco: McCarthy wins stage 3

Image 1 of 45

Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the third stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco in Valdegovia, winning the bunch sprint ahead of neo-pro Aleksandr Ryabushenko (UAE Team Emirates) and Michał Kwiatkowski (Team Sky).

With the remnants of the day’s breakaway caught only 2.5km from the finish, setting up any form of organised train was tough. A number of late counter-attacks, the most prominent of which came from Alex Aranburu (Caja Rural-RCA), meant it would be a chaotic sprint.

Having been visible on the front during the run-in, Bora-Hansgrohe who were the most organised team, with Austrian Gregor Mühlberger providing the leadout that launched McCarthy to his second win of the season.

“It was a nice ride. We had our first plan to look after our GC riders but if it came to a sprint it was up to me to have a go,” McCarthy said after the finish. “The boys did a good job all day. Gregor Mühlberger did an awesome leadout. It’s his birthday today so I’m happy to pay him with a victory today.”

Meanwhile Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors) retains the race lead over second-placed Primož Roglič (LottoNL-Jumbo) ahead of Thursday’s flat 19.4km time trial in Lodosa. Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida) lies third overall.

How it unfolded

It was another lumpy day at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, as it usually tends to be. Three classified climbs dotted the route, with two third category climbs at Errigoiti at 19.1km and Aretxabalgane at 34.7km followed by the second cat La Barrerilla at 91.4km.

A series of six unclassified climbs featured over the final 70km, while the two intermediate sprints came in Anuncita at 114.8km and 152.8km. With a flat finish, a sprint seemed the day’s likely conclusion.

The break of the day formed within the first 10km, with Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Christopher Juul-Jensen (Mitchelton-Scott) getting away initially. The duo would eventually be joined by Pavel Sivakov (Team Sky), Ion Irisarri (CajaRural-RGA), Aritz Bagües (Euskadi Murias), Ben King (Dimension Data), Brendan Canty (EF Education First-Drapac), Willie Smit (Katusha-Alpecin).

As De Gendt scooped up the maximum 12 points over the day’s three climbs, taking the lead in the mountain classification, back in the peloton things were more relaxed with Igor Anton (Dimension Data) taking a break to stop and greet his daughter at the side of the road.

Up front the attrition started on the unclassified climbs, with the break’s latecomers the first to be dispatched with 50km remaining. Sivakov held on longer, but heading into the final 35km the original duo were out on their own with a two-minute advantage.

Sky and Sunweb were among the teams prominent at the head of the peloton as the gap eroded, and it was the British squad who turned on the heat up the unclassified climb with 25km to go.

Omar Fraile’s (Astana) attack was jumped on by Kwiatkowski and David De La Cruz (both Sky), who quickly left the Spaniard behind to commence their Duo Normand-style two-up time trial chase, making the catch with 16km to go as the rain showers hit.

De Gendt was the first of the four to drop back, satisfied with his new climber’s jersey, as Quick Step Floors and Movistar were among those working to close the gap. Kwiatkowski was next to fall backa, and within the final 3km the peloton swallowed up Juul-Jensen and De La Cruz, setting up the bunch sprint.

Sprinting into a headwind it was McCarthy who found himself in prime position after Mühlberger’s leadout, leaving his competition simply unable to come close to the Australian.

THE HOLY WEEK - Trailer from Cyclingnews Films on Vimeo.

Full Results